How many cracked blocks this winter?

[Northernbob]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

Some sailors boat stored at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Looks like a sprinkler or hose got froze and let loose.
We get lots of that here in the late fall, get some pretty interesting patterns.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

Looks like a sprinkler or hose got froze and let loose.
We get lots of that here in the late fall, get some pretty interesting patterns.

Yes, that is what happen.
This boat is parked in the storage yard on board NAS Pensacola at the marina. The yard has underground water supplied to the rows of stored boats. About every 4 or 5 spaces there is a vertical pvc pipe with a rack for garden hoses.
The marina operator coulda shoulda turned water off and drained the water supply but did not.
So some of the vertical pvc stations froze, split, and sprayed water like this until someone decided maybe they should turn off the BIG valve.

 

[mars bar]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

At that temp we go to the beach, shovel snow off a spot on the sand and out come the towels.Canada EH!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I wonder how cold it has to be for couple hours to freeze a block. I am in west coast (Tampa Bay) and got to 28 here last night for couple hours. I don't think anyone here ever winterizes. (I know I don't). Thought about putting drop light in bilge, but forgot. I knoe a couple hundred pounds of cast iron does not col off super fast, just wonder what the timing/temp has to be for short bursts below freezing.

My brother pulled the outdrive off his boat this morning - there was solid ice in the water passage where the outdrive mates to the bell housing (Mercruiser Alpha 1). He lives in Brandon, just east of Tampa.... we will wait and see what happens when he starts it up. Keeping our fingers crossed!

Don - I have been guilty of "laughing" at all the "poor souls" up North. Now it is probably coming back to bite me! :redface:

I saw on the news the other night that this is the worse cold snap since the late 1800's here in South Florida. There was even a report on the news from the local marinas warning boaters to drain their blocks - especially the I/Os.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

At that temp we go to the beach, shovel snow off a spot on the sand and out come the towels.Canada EH!

The Canadians are the only ones on the beach here locally. And yes, there are quite a few on the beach right now!

 

[Bondo]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I saw on the news the other night that this is the worse cold snap since the late 1800's here in South Florida.

Ayuh,.... It's Global Warming, don'tcha know.....

 

[Mark42]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

Time to buy stock in JB Weld.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

Yup, I'm willing to bet 'ol Rapido Marine will be having an excellent year in Florida come April or so.

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I drained all the water out and I am still freaking out. I live in jacksonville and I got in the car this morning and my water bottle was frozen... It is all over this weekend. It will be 70 here Saturday. So, we will see this weekend for alot of us so I am defeintly going take my two boats out this weekend and make sure all is well.

 

[Don S]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I drained all the water out and I am still freaking out. I live in jacksonville and I got in the car this morning and my water bottle was frozen... It is all over this weekend. It will be 70 here Saturday. So, we will see this weekend for alot of us so I am defeintly going take my two boats out this weekend and make sure all is well.

Yep, the start of the first freeze-broken block season in Florida in a long time.

I think this season will start as soon as it warms up to about 60? in Florida and the boats start hitting the water again.

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I think it will be an odds game for some boat owners. I mean it got to the 20s for 2-4 hours at night then back to 50 during the day. So some people may be ok. I wouldn't think a couple of hours below freezing could destroy a block.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I wouldn't think a couple of hours below freezing could destroy a block.
__________________

You should do a search on this forum and see how many people that are asking the question "Can I put a car engine in my boat?" or "Can I use JB Weld to fix a cracked block?" That have said that very same phrase...

 

[Philster]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

Ayuh,.... It's Global Warming, don'tcha know.....

No, they call it "Climate Change" now. No matter which direction the temps swing, they have it covered.

It gets colder: See, our efforts are reversing the warming! Buy more carbon credits!

It gets warmer: See, we need more effort/money/whatever!

The United Nations Climate Change Conference was held last month in Copenhagen.

 

[jkust]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

No, they call it "Climate Change" now. No matter which direction the temps swing, they have it covered.

It gets colder: See, our efforts are reversing the warming! Buy more carbon credits!

It gets warmer: See, we need more effort/money/whatever!

The United Nations Climate Change Conference was held last month in Copenhagen.

Been hearing a lot of this circular logic here in MN where -20 ambient temps don't even make you flinch anymore. Instead of the above, the logic is twisted to be that the cooling just proves the warming and that Climate and weather are different. I actually read the first "global cooling" reference today. I much prefer the cold winter temps because it means the snow won't melt for snowmobiling.

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I do not in any way advocate running the risk, but, I think it would be ok. but, to be clear I have drained both engine in both my boats and drained all the manifolds. I did not want to run any risks.

 

[Philster]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

There seems to be this southern notion that goes like this: "I figure a few hours below freezing isn't long enough to crack an engine block".


Attention Floridians and all others who don't know squat about freezing temps:

>First, air temps of 28 degrees for a few hours are enough to freeze the water in the block. Once frozen, it doesn't need to be frozen any longer, say for a few more hours. The very act of freezing is the act of expansion, and cracking. Once frozen, the water has already expanded! It doesn't keep growing as the cold weather lasts longer!

>Second, when air temps are at 28, surface temps of many things are lower. Heck, where YOU live it might really be 26, but closer to the airport where they measure the temp for the news, it might be 29. Your cold, cold, iron block might be a balmy 23 degrees.

Please, get out there and assume the worst before it gets worse!

 

[jkust]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

Here in MN, if you bring your boat in to be winterized to the marina after the first sub 32 degree temp, they say they charge you extra to verify it isn't cracked and that you aren't trying to scam them. Not sure if they actually do charge more or not to 'verify' but I know that during the first few unusually cold days in October when it dropped into the 20's there were still dozens of boats on their lifts at local lakes. Seems lots of people rushed to get it done and then lots of others were unphased by the cold temps. I always think of the lake home people as the more experienced boaters having generally owned boats for years and have had experienced with winterizing. The ones that left their boats on the lifts and ignored the temps either know something I don't or will all be in line for new engines next season.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I had a guy call me the other day wanting his winterized...

Uhhhh...its been in the teens at night for weeks...

I know this spring will be busy.

 

[Philster]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

I always think of the lake home people as the more experienced boaters having generally owned boats for years and have had experienced with winterizing. The ones that left their boats on the lifts and ignored the temps either know something I don't or will all be in line for new engines next season.

The lake water is probably still in 60's and things sitting right above it benefit greatly from it. The water, even in the 50's, is a giant heater for things sitting right above it.

 

[Lou C]

Re: How many cracked blocks this winter?

The one fact that is clear here that some boaters don't want to face is that there are distinct disadvantages to raw water cooled sterndrives...and this is one...they do not forgive even a few hours of a low enough temp...if you want to have no worries about freezing...then get an OB next time...or full closed cooling (still have to drain the raw water section) and that's it....I can deal with it because I have no problem jumping in the bilge and draining it when needed....but some engines have such bad access it's a real pain... but if you're going to own one of these....either learn how and get out there and JUST DO IT don't waste time asking questions on the net...I could drain my engine in less time that it takes to read this thread....or have a good relationship with a shop that will do it for you...